Drop pit



P. PHELPS DROP PIT Amm 2, w29.

Filed April 4, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet B. P. PHELPS Aman 2, 1929..

DROP PIT Filed April 4. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet B. P. PHELPS Apg-11 2,1929.

imo? PIT Filed Aprii 4, 1928 4 sheets-sheet 3 www3 B. P. PHELPS DROP PITFiled April 4, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 the loeomoti io the PatentedApr.. 2, i929..

einen orties.

BARTON P. PHELES, 0F TOPEE-., KANSAS, ASSGNQR TO WHITING CORPOEATON, OF

HARVEY, ILLITGES, .A CRRTION OF LLNOIS.

application mea april e, 192e. serial no. 267,218.

The invention relates to drop pits of the type used in connection -withlocomotives.

ll'any locmnotives are now equipped With boosters 'eli are adapted tothe power of ve and are carried by trucks that separable from thelocomot'iye. These ers occasionally require repair or overor desirableto remo. c the booster-truck from 'locomoti ve for delivery to the shopfor re- L lt 'is now common practice to provide thelocomotive shop withdrop pit which eX- tends under and intersects trvo or more of the r cksand has associated therewith drop tables having track sections thereonbridging the top of the pit, and to' transfer the tables across the pitfrom one trac r to another, so a pair of Wheels, removed from alocomotive on one track, may be transported to another 20 track so theWheels may be rolled ofi' to the shop. ln practice, these drop tablesare of limited Width, so that a single pair of Wheels may be loweredfrom the locomotive While the others remain supported on thetrackat 25the sides of the pit. The booster trucks are usually of such 'lengththat they cannot be llowered into the pit, and consequently the droppits now' used for locomotive Wheels cannot be used for the removal andreplacement of the booster trucks.

@ne object of the present A`invention is to provide a drop pit which isadapted for use Vin .the removal and replacement'of booster trucks.' l

Another object ofthe invention vis to provide an improved equipmentwhich is usable for replacement and removal of locomotive drivers asWell as booster trucks.

A further object of the invention is to pro# vide an equipment which isadapted for the replacement and removal of booster trucks and in whichthe standard drop table for hanlling locomotive driversmay be used.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedequipment comprising a drop table and is usable for locomotive driversvwith auxiliary `trucks which are usable in'conjunction with the tablefor handling booster trucks When desired. v

@ther objects of the invention will appear v from the followingdescription.

ng, and for this purpose it is necessary ine invention consists in theseveral novel e `tures hereinafter set forth and morevpar* .ularlydefined by the claims at the conclusion hereof. e f

ln the drawings; Fig. l is a transverse section of a drop pit embodyingthe invention, the drop table beingshoivn in its raised'po# ition llig.2 is a similar view, With the drop` ble lowered, for the transfer of' abooster ck, and the supplemental trucks rolled away. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section taken on line of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a plan'shovviithe invention applied to a .system of tracks. Fig. 5 isaperspective'ofthe Vdrop table and auxiliary trucks. Fig. 6 isahorisontal section through the locking mechas i ms for the trucks anddrop table. VFigure 7 is a transverse sectional View of the drop table.

. on one track to another track and vice versa.

Each drop table is built vup of channel beams f2 and -beams f3 disposedunder the rail sections f to support them, and crossbeams fgo, and allthe beams being rigidly se- Vcured together to form a rigid rectangularstructure. Each table is provided with flooring fl between the beamsunder the rail sections and platforms fm at the sides of said sections.Each table is provided With suitable locking mechanism nto secure it inposition to support and retain the rail-sections thereon in registryWith the rails of a trac terminating at the pit sides or with the endsof the auxiliary trucks hereinafter set forth.v This table lockingmechanism comprises four bars f5 which are vertically aligned Avvith therail sections f, and are each slidably guided inv y blocks ,'f, whichare fixedly seeured'betiveen pair of the beams Theouter ends of theselocking bars areadapted to project from thel ends of theftable into thevertically eX die locking;` bars f5 are conjointly operable by arock-shaft 12 which extends longitudinally of the pit and is jouriialledin bearings 13 and 11i mounted on the table, a pair oit levers 15, eachprovided with oppositcly extending arms, and links 16 pivoted to saidarms and tothe locking bars respectively. An operating' lever 1 9 islixed to rock shai'it 12 adjacent one side ot the table.

il truck (i for transporting the drop table along the pit and betweenthe tracks, as well understood in the art, compri. a traine g2 equippedwith wheels g to travel on rails g" at the bottom oi the pit. rlhistruck may be el' any suitable construction and equipped with hand orpower operated mechanism tor propelling it. rlhe truck G is equippedwith 'a vertically movable carriage lil i'or r and lowering the droptables; m"

i ne ca comprises a rigid 'trame Ztsupported by screwthreaded rods gt,the lower ends of vhich are iixed to the truck-frame g2, ind worin gearsh2, which are confined in sectional heusin k3 iixed to the trame ofcarriage lll. iiy c joint rotation of gears ZLZ the carriage and 'itsload may be raised or lowered in the pit. These gears are conjointlyoperable by suitable gearing driven by an electric motor 7b4, to rotatethem to raise or lower the carriagige. The carriage ll is adapted toengage the underside of the drop table to support or litt it, and ismovable independently ot the table, as well understood in the art, andas cxeinplh iied in Letters Patent No. lai-32,256u

Adjacent each. side of the pit lll, there is provided an auxiliary pitor recess E which is extendedy under and to intersect any desired numberot tracks A. Each of these suppleinental or auxiliary pits is providedwith a pair of rails es k:for a truck li, so that each truck may beshiited between the tracks il which are intersected by the auxiliarypits. Each truck L comprises wheels Z to run on the cross-rails e8, sidefra-nies Z carrying journal boxes for the wheel axles, and superstructureV comprising transverse beams Z5, lon! tudinal beams Z4',channelled en d beamsvZ/" and iT-beams Z2, all of the beams beingrigidly secured together to form a rigid supporting` structure tor railsections Z, which are secured to the tops'oit l-beains Z2, and areadapted to bridge the gap between the rail sections on the drop tableand the rails of the tracks A. Flooring` Z7 is provided between t ierail sections, and platforms Z8 are provided at the sides .of therail-sections Z Each otthese ,auxiliary trucks constitutes a suppert forthe railsections Z which is movable in one oi" the auxiliary pits Etotransier said rail sections to and from a position in alignmentwithithe drop table and betwcenrseveral oithe tracks A. y Y

llaclrk truck L is equipped with lockiuo Z mechanism for securing itagainst transverse movement to retain the rail sections ZG thereonaligned with the rail sections on a drop table and one of the tracks A,rllhis mechanism comprises a pair ot bars Zlo, which are slidablymounted in blocks Z11 ixed'between the beams Z2, and adapted to beshifted into sockets Z12 iixed in the side wall of the auxiliary pit E.'Ifhese bars are operable into and out ot the sockets by a lever Z13fixed to a shaft ZV, arms Z15 fixed to said shalt, and links Z16between,l said arms and the locking bars. Sockets Z17 are also xed toeach of the auxiliary truck trames to receive the outer ends of thelocking` bars f5 which are carried by the drop tables lh By means ofthese locking,l mechanisms, the trucks L and one of the drop tables l" nay be secured so that the rail sections on the table and the trucks willcompletely bridge the gaps vin the tracks lllhen the locking` barsarereleased, the auxiliary trucks may be rolled transversely olf thetracks. Vilhile the locking` bars Z1@ are lett in the sockets Z12, thedrop table will be Y released so that it may be raised or lowered in thepit ill. i f

'lie operation is as follows: lNhen the booster which is generallyindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, is to be removed ir'oni thelocomotive, the auxiliary trucks Land theY drop table i? will be lockedinto position to bridge 'he track which the locomotive Ais located, solthat the locomotive can be run over the pit. position to bring thewheels m of the booster' truck 'trame Aonto the drop table, as shown inliig, 1. ln this position, the drivers of the locomotive will clearthe'rail sections on the auxiliary trucks. Next, the locking' bars fwill be rele tu din ally.

' lhe locomotive will be run into ed from the auxiliary trucks, so `thattheti acks will be tree 'to be moved longibooster truck, so the boostercan be detached i'rom the locomotive rlhe auxiliary trucks L then.unloclzed and rolled crosswise et thetrac" to provide a space into whichthe booster can be lowered awayV from the locomotive. lient, the droptable is lowered intoy position indicated in 2. Vrlhe carriage ll willthen be operated inthe pit to ltransport the drop table with the boosterthereon into alignment with the rails of an adjacent track A. Then, thedrop table Awill be raised to bring the booster approximatelyto thetrack level. 'lhe auxiliary trucks are then wheeled into position'tobring' the rail sections thereon 'into alignment with the rail sectionson the drop table, and the rails of the track A. rihe loekingwbars f arethen lr the rail sections on the auxiliarv trucks to lock the drop tableand trucksher and the locking` bars Z1@ are operated 13oy i images andthe drop table, so that the booster truck may be rolled cli' to thedesired point in the shop. When the booster is to be replaced on thelocomotive, it is rolled onto the drop table while the latter and theauxiliary trucks are locked together. The auxiliary trucks are thenreleased and rolled away from the drop table. rlhe latter, with thebooster thereon, will then be loweredand then transported into positionunder the locomotive 'on an adjacent tracl, and elevated into posiwhilethe locomotive ruiiginto position to bring the drivers onto tl droptable. rEben the locking bars are released troni the auxiliary trucks`and the latter are lett locked in position. The drop table will then behoisted slightlyfto disconnect the drivers, so

they can be released and then lowered into the pit E tor transfer toanother track, so they can be rolled to the desired place in the shop.l/Vhen the drop table and trucks are locked, the lifting` mechanism maybe lowered and the carriage used in any portion ot the pit. While thetables in the pit and the trucks are locked, the table will be supportedi'roin the trucks, so that the rail sections will coin'- pletely bridgethe pitE andrecesses E so locomotives may run over the pit.

rlhe linvention exemplifies a drop pit which is equipped and adapted forthe removal and replacement o'l booster trucks, and which is alsooperable to handle locomotive drivers. ln this equipment, the drop tableused for drivers is utilized in handlingv booster trucks, so thatseparate equipment for boosters and drivers are not necessary.

The invention is not to beunderstood restricted to the detail set forth,since these may be modiiied within the scope et the appended claims,without departing 'trom the spirit and scope ot the invention.

1fraving thus described the invention, what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is: Y Y y l. ln an equipment et the characterdcscribed, the combination with a pit, or" a drop table adapted to beraised'and lowered in the pit, a truclr movable into and out of positionat one side of the table, and rail-sections on the table and the truck.

2. ln an equipment of the'eharacter described, the combination with apit having` a recess along` one side thereof, ot a drop table adaptedtobe raised and lowered in the pit, and a wheeled truck in the recessand movable into and out of position at one side ci' the table to.permit a booster to be lowered into the pit for transfer. y y

n 3. ln. an equipment ot the character described, tlie combination witha pit having a recess alongv one side t ici-eet, ot a drop table adaptedto be raised and lowered in the pit, a wheeled trucl; in the recess andtable to permit a booster to be lowered into the pit tor transiter, andrail-sections on the table and the truck.

4l. ln an equipment of the character described, the combination with apit, ot' a drop table adapted to be raised and lowered in the pit, atruck movable into and out ot position at one sine of the table topermit a booster to be lowered into thepitfor tiansier, rail-sections onthe table. and the truck, and

means tor locking the truck against lateral movement relatively to thetable. f

5. ln an equipment of the character 'described, the combination with apit, otl a drop table adapted to be raised and lowered in the pit, and apairy oit trucks at thev sides ot and movable .transversely relativelytothe table to permit a booster on the table to be lowered into the pit.

6. ln an equipment of the character described, tlie combination with apit having recesses along` the sides thereof, of a drop table adapted tobe raised and lowered in the pit, and a pair of trucks in the recessesand movable transversely relatively to the table.

7. ln an equipment vof the character described, the combination wit-hv apit having` recesses along` the sides thereof, of a diop table adaptedto be raised and lowered in the pit, a pair of trucks in the recessesand movable transversely relatively to the tablev to n'iovable 1 intoand out oi' position at one side ot the permit a booster on the table tobe lowered into the pit, and rail sections'on the table andthe trucks tobridge the pit and recesses.

8. In an equipment of the character described, the combination with apit having' recesses along the sides thereof, of a drop table adapted tobe raised and lowered in the pit, a pair of trucks in the recesses andmovable transversely relatively to the table, and means for locking thetable to the trucks so it will be supported thereby.

9. In an equipment of the character described, the combination with apit, of a drop table adapted to be raised and lowered in the pit, a pairot trucks at the sides of, and movable transversely relatively to, thetable, to permit a booster on the table to be lowered into the pit, railsections on the table and the trucks, and means for lockingl the trucksagainst lateral movement.

l0.r ln an equipment ot the character described, the combination with apit, of a drop iio table, a carriage movable inthe pit, mechanism on thecarriage for raising and lowering the drop table, a truck at the side ofand movable transversely of the table, and rail sections en the truckand table.

ll. In anV equipment of the character described, the combination with apit, of a drop table, a carriage movable in the pit, mechanism on thecarriage for raising and lowering the drop table, trucks at the sides ofand movable transversely of the table, rail sections on the trucks andtable to bridge the pit, and means for locking the table to the trucks.

l2. In an equipment of the character def scribed, the combination Withapit, of a drop table, a carriage movable in the pit, mechanism on thecarriage iior raising and lowering the drop table, a truck at one sideor' and movable transversely oit the table, rail-sections on the truckand table, means for lock- .ing the truck in the pit, and means forlockymovable transversely of the table, rail sections on the trucks andtable to bridge the pit,

means for locking the trucks/in the pit, and

means for locking the table to the trucks.

14. ln an equipment of the character described, `the combination With apit having a recess along one side thereof, oi a drop table,`

mechanism for raising and lowering the table in the pit, separable fromthe table, a Wheeled truck adapted to travel in thev recess andlongitudinally of the pit, rail-sections on the truck and the drop tableto bridge the pit and the recess, and means for locking the table to thetruck and the truck in the recess in their bridging position.

l5. in an equipment of the lcharacter de scribed, the combination Vwitha pit having recesses along the sides thereof, of a drop table,mechanism for raising and lowering the table. in the pit, separable fromthe table, trucks adapted to travel in the recesses and longitudinallyof the pit, rail-sections on the trucks and the drop table to bridge thepit and the recesses, means for locking the trucks. in the recesses, andmeans for locking the.

"sieren r., rnnLrs.

